How am I alive?

As if I had been thrown and fallen to the ground, I woke up gasping and frightened. Immediately, I brought my hands to my neck, the sensation of the cold iron still vivid in my mind and body. I was shaking uncontrollably, my eyes blurred by unshed tears. I looked at my hands, clean, and smooth, my nails long, and well-manicured. I couldn't understand what was happening. Was it all a dream? A hallucination? Or perhaps a warning of the future that awaited me? I hugged my body, trying to contain the incessant shaking, and then the sound of a door alerted me. Looking around, I realized I was in the imperial library, several books before me on the beautiful dark wooden table. An imposing figure appeared and stopped for a moment in front of me, I raised my eyes to see the handsome figure of Grand Duke William Valois.

With a bow, William lowered his head and placed his hand on his chest. "I greet the first princess of the empire of Arventia, Your Highness, Princess Camellia Arventia."

I stood up hurriedly, knocking over some of the books on the table. I bent down to pick them up, and when I looked up, William was there, helping to collect them. My heart felt like it was going to explode with such happiness. He looked at me confused and I felt my face heat up with embarrassment. We finished collecting the books, and, without saying anything, William simply put them on the table and left. I wanted to say something, but I was so confused.

I didn't understand what was happening, all those images and memories that were running through my mind seemed so real, and the sensations in my body were still so vivid that several times I had to stop on my way to my palace to collect myself.

As I walked along, I heard voices approaching, so I instinctively hid and stayed silent, just waiting for an opportunity to go on my way in peace.

"Are you sure about this?" Theodore's voice rose in anger.

"Your Highness, the case is very serious. The coffers are almost empty, it will be necessary to cut spending or the empire will collapse," the treasurer pleaded.

Then the images from the account books took over my mind, the absurd spending of the imperial family, the unproductive and abandoned lands whose investments had been stolen, and the absurd taxes levied on the people just to maintain the emperor's luxuries. Was it possible? Could a dream be so full of details to explain real situations?

As soon as they were out of sight, I ran back to my palace and locked myself in my room. When I looked in the mirror, I couldn't recognize the young face that stared back at me in shock. The long, voluminous, shiny brown hair, eyes as green as the tops of tall trees, clear, smooth skin, a face with delicate features, and no sign of violence.

"What does all this mean?" I said to my reflection in the large mirror. "Have I come back to life? Have I returned to the past? How is that possible?" Despair began to take hold of me. I was going mad, the panic growing that if anyone knew about such an act, I would be condemned as a witch.

Once again the memories of the torture and humiliation came back, and with them my anger and the promise I had made against those who had done me so much harm. A voice then echoed in my mind. "You have two choices, what will you do?"

My mind then began to clear, everything I remembered had happened, I had been given a second chance to live and to keep my promise. The doors to my room opened, and my nanny, who had become my lady-in-waiting, came in frightened, looking everywhere. When she saw me, she breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards me, holding my face lovingly between her hands, watching carefully.

"My child," she said in a voice full of love, "the maids said they saw you running to your room. I was afraid his highness the prince had done something bad to you again, but I see you're all right."

I wrapped my arms around her waist and snuggled into her arms, tears rolling down my cheeks at the sight of her healthy before me.

"I'm fine, babysitter," I said with a sense of relief filling my chest.

I kept myself locked in my room for the rest of the day, wondering what I would do from that moment on with all the information I had. One thing was certain, I needed to get out of the Emperor's control. According to my calculations, I had returned about five years before my execution, which gave me ample time to prepare properly for the events that followed, especially Theodore's engagement ball. Everything had to be thought out and planned meticulously so that there was no risk of failure.

I looked out of the large window at the starry sky and decided to open it and allow the fresh night air into my room. A movement from the gardens below caught my eye, and then I saw William walking distractedly. He picked up a small lilac flower and brought it to his face, sipping its scent. My heart raced once again at the sight of him, feelings that seemed so familiar began to grow inside my young heart.

I leaned on the window frame and had the luxury of watching him for a while longer. Details that I hadn't bothered to notice before now screamed before my eyes, such as his firm posture, fierce and determined gaze, broad shoulders, and superior physique. Of course, what stood out most about his appearance were his sleek black hair and deep blue eyes.

Suddenly, William stopped walking and looked directly at my window, surprising me. He stood there watching me for a moment before bowing and walking away. I was a little hurt by the coldness with which he looked at me, but I should understand, after all, only I had returned to the past with platonic feelings for him.

I closed the window and went to bed, I needed to rest so that the next morning I could begin my plan to destroy the Arventia empire and everyone who had ever dared to raise their hands against me.